Well I could list a bunch of reasons why I don't like Mesa, but aside from the prices and poor valve matching, their all personal taste issues.
Though I do really like the Mesa clean sound. It has everything the drive sound lacks. For me. Sadly not enough to warrant me buying one.

I think way back when, I was just so happy to be making a noise that everything sounded good. Despite non of it costing more than £50. Junk gear held together with elastic bands and sticky tape kind of affair.
Wonder how I'd fare nowadays if I had to play the same gear?

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Sure, Ceri, but whereas they may not be able to hear it in tone, they'll hear it in performance. I know I play better when I sound good.

But one thing is sure, these day every companies try to cost cuting . The metal steel of the "good old days" of Fender are not the same in modern guitars . Can we find this quality in after market parts? That's the question.

For pickups, yes many after marquet are better than many Fender PU

Hi DIN0: that's exactly right, and by far the most important reason for worrying about tone and playability issues. We need the player to be happy with his instrument for him to play well.

But I'm just saying, when we replace a plastic nut with a bone one, or do a pickup swap, or... one of the dozens of other things we obsess over - don't expect anyone else on the planet to notice the difference.

Cheers - C

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But I'm just saying, when we replace a plastic nut with a bone one, or do a pickup swap, or... one of the dozens of other things we obsess over - don't expect anyone else on the planet to notice the difference.

_____ceri

Are you serious ?
I disagree with you , everybody can hear the difference,

Stratele

The only reason I use bone is because it's free.

I wonder if Clapton worries over such things? Or Knopfler? If you see a interview with either they seem quite uninterested in such things.

I suppose it's the difference between guitarists and musicians. One cares about one aspect the other cares about overall sound.

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nikininja are you really serious ?

"The only reason I use bone is because it's free."---nikininja

Yes ? tell me where I could have some for free. A lots ( I should say all ?) of professional luthiers and musicians ) tell bone is better. I agree with.
I NEVER read plastic nut is better or the same.


"I wonder if Clapton worries over such things? Or Knopfler? If you see a interview with either they seem quite uninterested in such things."----nikininja

Yes I' m sure, we read a lot of story about his personnal choice about gear, modifed guit and amps. I'm sure the bone nut is first on the list.

Hi stratele52: so there I was at the Eric Clapton gig. They were doing great numbers, the band was cooking, the PA was one of the best I've heard - and yet something wasn't right. Eric was playing well but the sound... huh... And then I worked it out. He was using a plastic nut instead of a bone one. Anyone could tell. Just ruined the show for me.

...Yeah right, in bizarro land!!!

Cheers - C

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It's a shame to hear something like that (hopefully it is only a pre-coffee thing). And still, my direct question to ME remains unanswered by him. Of course, I know the answer, without a doubt.

http://www.fender.com/community/forums/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=48715&sid=78917a7bb8bdd8e1741701fc9447f580

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---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.

Absolutely, and I wonder if sometimes even the player can and that they aren't just trying to tick all the boxes on their 'what's bestest' list. I've tried many parts that are considered tonally superior - bone nuts, tonepros hardware, hand-wound pickups, Fasel wahs etc - and sure, I can hear they're different but often (not always) I prefer the more usual fare.
You don't always get what you pay for in the quest for that sound in your head!
It's a lot fun trying stuff, though.

Most crazy thing I ever bought was a $100 guitar cable. It did sound a little better, mind.

But then there are the other little details, parts with an almost supernatural ability to make me sound more like I always wanted to, make the music I play come to life in a way that before I could only dream of. For some people that may be a stock Strat with a pot metal block... but for others..... Man, I remember the 1st time I played through a cranked Plexi - you know that uncontrollable smile! But that's pretty dramatic, I also remember the 1st time I played a Strat with a laminated maple fingerboard - I'd never enjoyed playing an all maple necked Strat before. A difference that's probably very tiny, but to my ears and hands, it changed everything!
When the sound you make and the feel of your instrument are in harmony with you, it's like you're 10 feet tall. And, Ceri, what I'm saying is that everyone can hear that. Even the drummer... and his girlfriend's girlfriend.

Does Clapton give a goldleaf poop for bone nuts? Who cares what he thinks - what do you think?

Hi shimmilou: gosh, is it? Why?

No, it's absolutely not a pre-coffee thing. It's a friendly little bit of gentle humor, and just so's people are left in no doubt as to the harmless flavor that laughing emoticon is there to reassure them.

Secretly, I find the emoticons we pepper our posts with pretty tiresome, but they seem to be a necessity since we can't see the friendly smile on each other's faces and so sometimes need to make it clear that it's all in the best possible spirit. That's what this is here for too: .



DIN0, we are of a single mind! This is the "we are of a single mind" emoticon: .

A friendly "cheers" to everyone - C

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I just enjoyed reading about these little obsessions by all (all X number of pages).

I have a Callaham block in one of my guitars and my experience is that it did improve a ringing sustain and guitar seems louder played unplugged. Plugged in, I can't tell since I changed the pickups at the same time when the block was updated. Now in my case Callaham block replaced a squire aluminum (I think) piece of junk so it was a definite improvement. At the same time I would not replace the 09 MIM block with anything as it is just fine as it is and whatever is in it.

On the other side topic I agree the Callaham owner was rough around the edges, I thought he was some kind of drill sergeant in his previous career. He actually tried to lecture me about the block types over the phone without first finding out how much I know about his product. Yes it was the most expensive one at the time, but wanted to try it anyhow.

Cheers to you, too!

Stratele

Just go to the butcher and tell them you want a cow shin bone. Then use the bit nearest the cow's ankle.

It makes no difference to fretted notes at all, not one jot. To open strings, maybe just a very small amount.

Allez juste au boucher et leur dire que vous voulez une vache jambe os. Utilisez ensuite le bit plus proche de la vache cheville. Il ne fait aucune différence frettées notes à tous, pas un iota. D'ouvrir les chaînes de caractères, peut-être juste d'un très petit montant.
(Même traducteur programme, désolé)

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